Valentina Ganocy, a rising sophomore and former standout player on the girls’ field hockey team, has left the school after moving to Texas. Their key center forward was instrumental in the team’s success last season, where she led the team to win the 2023 Sunset League Tournament of Champions (TOC). The team currently has a record of 2-2 this season without Ganocy.
Margaux Schlumberger ’27, a center midfielder on the team, said she feels a stronger sense of duty to guide the team this year.
“This will be my second year on the varsity team,” Schlumberger said. “Therefore, I feel more of a responsibility to lead, as well as play in the new system the team is executing after losing key players from last year.”
Coming off winning the 2023 Sunset League, Schlumberger said the team has high expectations as they seek to replicate last year’s success.
“The journey to the championship is never easy, regardless of who is on the team,” Schlumberger said.“However, with our current lineup, I’m optimistic about our chances this year. I’m sad I only got to play with Valentina on varsity for one season, but I’m excited to see what the new team is capable of accomplishing.”
Although the team is disappointed by Ganocy’s departure, Maggie Koo ’26, a right center on the team, said the team adapted well in their first game.
“It was sad to see Val move away,” Koo said. “But our team dynamic has adjusted nicely. During games, we still play the same formation and other girls on the team play the center forward position.”
Head coach Sue Hodgkins and assistant coach Andrew Giles also played a role in helping the team adjust to this change. Hodgkins said the coaching staff has been working closely with the athletes to reconfigure strategies and fill the leadership gap left by Ganocy.
“Val and the other departing starters had their roles on the team, played them well, and were instrumental to our success last year,” Hodgkins said. “Now that they are gone, the process is looking at the new roster and each player’s unique skill set and personality, determining where they can make the most impact, teaching them their roles and the HW field hockey culture and coaching them to play unified and to execute well, consistently and confidently.”
The team’s next game will be Sept. 10 on the road against Marina.
